Fire extinguishing device



Jul so, 1946. LEE 2,404,804

FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 16, 1944 Patented July 30, 1946FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE Floyd J. Lee, La Habra, (yaliii, assignor toJohn C. Burnam, Whittier, Calif.

Application October 16, 1944, Serial No. 558,846

4 Claims.

This invention relates to fireextinguishing apparatus of the typeemployed in fixed installations for automatically extinguishing fires.

Heretofore in different fire extinguishing installations various typesof spray heads or nozzles have been employed in connection with fusiblelink elements for controlling the operation of the spray heads ornozzles. While many different types of spray heads or nozzles have beenemployed in such installations they substantially all include one or aplurality of small orifices which are exposed to atmospheric conditions.The fusible link means which are employed for starting the operation ofthe spray heads or nozzles in prior installations have always actuatedsome type of valve mechanism which controls the supply of water to theorifice ororifices of the spray heads or nozzles. These orificesfrequently become closed when the nozzles or spray heads are notoperating, with the result that the installation cannot be relied uponfor automatically extinguishing the fire, when such fire arises.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a fireextinguishing apparatus for fixed installation which is constructed andarranged so as to prevent the orifices of the spray heads or nozzlesfrom becoming plugged, when the apparatus is not in operation.

In the usual practice of controlling a spray head, a valve means isinterposed between the spray head and the liquid supply means, whichvalve means is operated by a fusible link. In accordance with thepresent invention the means which control the flow of fluid through thespray head is placed beyond the spray head so as to maintain all of theorifices of the spray head immersed in fluid during the period of timewhen the apparatus is inoperative.

Thus in the apparatus of the present invention instead of interposing avalve mechanism between the spray head and the source of fireextinguishing liquid, the spray head is surrounded by a closure elementand the fire extinguishing liquid allowed to fill the closure elementand to remain within and also surround the portions of the spray head ornozzle. In this manner the spray head or nozzle is maintained incondition for instant operation on removal of the closure membertherefrom. Means for instigating the operation of the apparatus isapplied by removing, in the event of fire, the closure member from thespray head or nozzle.

In the fire extinguishing apparatus of the present invention the sprayhead or nozzle is surrounded by a closure member and this closure 2member is held in place by means including a fusible link, adapted onthe fusing of the link to allow water or other fluid pressure behind thespray head or nozzle to eject the closure member and allow operation ofthe apparatus.

It is an object,'therefore, of the present invention to provide a fireextinguishing apparatus which includes a closure member for a spray heador nozzle adapted to enclose the spray head or nozzle and permit thepressure of the fire extinguishing fluid to be continued through thenozzle and the closure member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fireextinguishing apparatus in which a closure member for a spray head ornozzle is supplied, which closure member is adapted to be ejected by thepressure behind the fire extinguishing fluid but is also retained frombeing so ejected by means including a fusible release link.

The fire extinguishing apparatus of the present invention will beunderstood from the following description of the preferred example ofthe present invention. Ihave, therefore, described the preferred exampleof the invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in whichFig. 1 is a elevation, partly in vertical section;

and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, i indicates a supply line for water or otherfire extinguishing fluid. I have elected to show a form of the inventionin which a so-called fog nozzle 2 is employed. The fog nozzle 2illustrated is of the conventional type which contains a number of pairsof orifices 3 and 4. Each pair or" orifices is arranged to produce jetsof fluid, which jets impinge one against the other for breaking up thefluid into a uniform spray or fog. Obviously any other type of nozzle orspray head may be substituted in the apparatus of the present inventionfor the particular fog nozzle 2 illustrated. However the apparatus ofthe present invention is of particular- The fog nozzle 2 is indicated asattached to the supply main I by means of a coupling 5 which is threadedto the base 5 of the fog nozzle. A ring I is provided which is shown asthreaded to the base 6 of the fog nozzle 2. With other types of sprayheads it is obvious that other means may be employed for fixing theposition of the ring I. The ring I is provided with an annular grooveholding annular packing 9. A closure member ID is formed shaped toenclose the head of the fog nozzle 2 and having a flanged base 8 adaptedto engage the packing 9. The particular shape of the closure member I6will vary in accordance with the shape of the nozzle or spray head to becovered, being indicated in the drawing as of a dome form and ofsuificient size to be spaced slightly from the fog nozzle 2. Theessential characteristic, however, of the closure member ID is toprovide a closure adapted to fit over the spray head or nozzle employedsaid closure being closed at its lower end, as indicated at I2; andadapted'at its upper end to have a liquid-tight seal with the ring Iimmovably fixed to the supply line 1 I or some element immovablyattached thereto.

In the apparatus of the present invention no valve means need beinterposed between the nozzle 2 and the supply main I but it is theintention that the fire extinguishing fluid will fill the space withinthe closure member I and thereby surround the nozzle 2 or other sprayhead enclosed Within the member I0. As thus used it will be seen thatthe hydraulic pressure within the closure member II! will act to ejectthe closure member I0 from its position unless the member In isrestrained from so moving.

Clamping means areprovided for restraining the movement of the closuremember ID, said clamping means comprising levers l3 and I4 and a fusiblelink I5. The members I3 and I4 are pivoted together, as indicated at I5,and the member I3 is indicated as adapted to press against the bottomwall I2 of the closure member, as

indicated at H. The lever I3 is curved upwardly to about the elevationof the ring 'I and is provided with an ear I8 adapted to engage a headI9 on the fusible link I5. The fusible link I is provided with an eye atits opposite end which fits over a pin 2I extending upwardly from thering 1. The lever I4 is curved upwardly and then inwardly as indicatedat 22 and provided with a fork 23, the ends of the fork having roundedsurfaces 24 for engagement with the face of,the ring I. The ring I isprovided with an abutment 25 which is adapted to contact the linkbetween the fork 23 and thereby limit the shifting of the clamping meansto the left as viewed in the figure. The link I5 should be made ofsuflicient length so that it takes a slight compression or springing ofthe levers I3 and I4 to place the clamping element in the positionindicated. Because of the leverage indicated there is therebyestablished a very considerable pres- 4 Since the fog nozzle 2 has beenat all times fi led and surrounded with the fire extinguishing fluidthere is no danger of clogging of the orifices thereof and the fireextinguishing nozzle will immediately commence its intended action.

It is to be understood that while the particular example of theinvention herein described has beenproven to be well adapted to carryout the objects of the present invention, various modifications andchanges may be made and this invention is not limited to the specificexample shown, but is of the scope set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An apparatus for exteriorly controlling the movement of fireextinguishing fluid through a spray head of a fire extinguishinginstallation, said apparatus including a ring member to be fixed to saidinstallation, a dome-shaped closure member for enclosing said spray headand forming a fluid-tight seal with said ring member, and clamping meansfor releasably clamping said closure member against said ring-shapedmember, said clamping means including two pivoted levers, one of whichis pressed against said closure member near the pivot point of saidlevers, one of said levers contacting said ring-shaped member, and afusible link interconnecting the other lever with said ring-shapedmember.

2. An apparatus for exteriorly controlling the movement of fireextinguishing fluid through a I spray head of a fire extinguishinginstallation,

' said apparatus including a ring member to be sure against the closuremember I ll, forcing a compression of the packing material I9 to insureadequate sealing of the apparatus.

With the apparatus indicated, it will be obvious that in the event offire, fusing of the link I5 being proportioned to apply tension to thelinkfixed to said installation, a dome-shaped closure member forenclosingsaid spray head and form,- ing a fluid-tight seal with saidring member, and clamping means for releasably clamping said closurememberagainst said ring-shaped member, said clamping means including twopivoted levers, one of which is pressed against said closure mem bernear the pivot points of said levers, one 'of said levers'contactingsaid ring-shaped member, and a fusible link interconnecting the otherlever with said ring-shaped member, said fusible link age for forcingthe closure member against said ring-shaped member.

3. Apparatus for controlling from the exterior the discharge of liquidfrom a spray head of a fire extinguishing installation, said apparatusincluding a ringmember fixed to said installation, a

dome-shaped closure member enclosing said head and having its open endadjacent to said ring member fixed to said installation for forming afluid-tight seal, and clamping means including two levers pivotedtogether, one of said levers con-' tacting said closure member near thepivot point, said levers being secured to said installation. 7

4. Apparatus for controlling from the exterior the discharge of liquidfrom a spray head of a fire extinguishing installation, said apparatusincluding a ring member fixed to said installation, a dome-shapedclosure member enclosing said head and haping its open end adjacent tosaid ring member fixed to said installation for forming a fluid-tightseal, clamping means including two levers pivoted together, one of saidlevers contacting said closure member near the pivot point, said leversbeing secured to said installation, and a fusible link interconnectedbetween one of said levers and said installation.

FLOYD J. LEE.

